Share your Caro-Kann Defence knowledge

Don't be afraid to play c5 later at the start of the middle game if you can get it in, especially if White goes in for the Advance Variation. It is about as solid as the French but allows the c8 Bishop to develop, usually to f5 in the Classical Variation.

The only side of the Caro-Kann that I would play is the White side, and the real Caro-Killer is the Fantasy Variation!

Two knights from white can lead to some pretty trappy lines black has to avoid. Also, I don't play Fantasy variation as it plays f3.

Have played it for more than 40 years. Not possible to share all knowledge unless I wrote a book.

Ain't that the truth!

But here are some general ideas.

A) White chooses every major variation of the Caro kann. As black you must know the theory in every variation.

B) The pawn structure for black is super solid. This is not " a knock out in the first round " type defense. Black's chances involve counterattack later. Particularly if white overextended trying to "make " something happen.

C) Sometimes your winning strategy is getting up one pawn, trading Queens, and pushing it to the glory land.

Great points chessterd5. It definitely is solid and does not trap the lsb early on like the French. But yes, the theory is heavily influenced by White's move choices.

Both White and Black have choices. If White chose the advance variation 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Black can already choose between 3...Bf5 and 3...c5 (I play both). If White choose the classical 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Black can choose between 4...Bf5, 4...Nd7 and 4...Nf6 (I play 4...Nf6). If White play the Panov Black can choose between g6 or e6 or early Nc6 variations, etc. So it is an opening that give both sides a lot of influence on the game's future.

I play Caro-Kann inspired by Larsen. That means I in most cases play it to win as Black through the ubalanced position. Not to play it solid. But that is not always possible of course.